# 冤家路窄

yuān jiā lù zhǎi

Adversaries inevitably encounter each other

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** The road is narrow for enemies

**Register:** Standard · expressive

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe an unwelcome meeting with a rival.

Usually playful or resigned in everyday use.

## Understanding the expression

A narrow road gives adversaries little space to avoid one another. The expression describes the feeling that a disliked person turns up precisely where one hoped not to meet them. It can be tense in a story and humorous in an ordinary encounter. The phrase does not establish fate or guarantee future meetings. Its force lies in the coincidence and the existing friction between the people, not merely seeing an acquaintance unexpectedly.

## Examples

刚吵过架又同桌，真是冤家路窄。

### Traditional Chinese

剛吵過架又同桌，真是冤家路窄。

gāng chǎo guò jià yòu tóng zhuō ， zhēn shì yuān jiā lù zhǎi 。

After arguing, they were seated together again—an awkward meeting of adversaries.

她在决赛遇到老对手，冤家路窄。

### Traditional Chinese

她在決賽遇到老對手，冤家路窄。

tā zài jué sài yù dào lǎo duì shǒu ， yuān jiā lù zhǎi 。

She met her old rival in the final, as adversaries seem to do.

躲到另一家店仍遇见他，真是冤家路窄。

### Traditional Chinese

躲到另一家店仍遇見他，真是冤家路窄。

duǒ dào lìng yì jiā diàn réng yù jiàn tā ， zhēn shì yuān jiā lù zhǎi 。

Even at another shop she ran into him, an unwelcome coincidence.

两个宿敌又分到一组，冤家路窄。

### Traditional Chinese

兩個宿敵又分到一組，冤家路窄。

liǎng gè sù dí yòu fēn dào yì zǔ ， yuān jiā lù zhǎi 。

The two longtime rivals were assigned to the same group again.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%86%A4%E5%AE%B6%E8%B7%AF%E7%AA%84)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1015&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [怨声载道 yuàn shēng zài dào Complaints are heard everywhere ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yuan-sheng-zai-dao)

- [约法三章 yuē fǎ sān zhāng Set a few clear basic rules ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yue-fa-san-zhang)

- [月下老人 yuè xià lǎo rén A matchmaker, or the traditional deity of matchmaking ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yue-xia-lao-ren)

- [越俎代庖 yuè zǔ dài páo Take over another person's proper responsibility ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yue-zu-dai-pao)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 余音绕梁 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yu-yin-rao-liang) [Next idiom 缘木求鱼 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/yuan-mu-qiu-yu)